Shoe-holder



(No Model.)

F. W. WHITGHER. SHOE HOLDER.

No.'497,160. Patented May9,'1893.

Min/(2889,61 [rm/eaior A W WWW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK \V. WVHITOHER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,150, dated May 9, 1893.

Application filed November 17, 1892. Serial No. 452,352. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W. VVHITCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston,in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe- Holders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

Ladies shoes as also shoes which are made from enameled leather and the like require to be treated occasionally with liquid dressing. In applying such a dressing it is desirable to so hold the shoe that the dressing maybe applied to all parts of it without the danger of soiling the hands or clothes.

My invention has for its object to provide an inexpensive and efficient holder for this purpose which is preferably made from wire and which consists of two handles each of which is connected with a projecting portion adapted to beinserted in the shoe and securely hold the same, said parts being pivoted or hinged together so that they may be moved with relation to each other to facilitate the ready insertion and withdrawal of the device into and from the shoe.

The novel features of my device are pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown a perspective view of my device in the best form now known to me in the position which it occupies when inserted in the shoe and I have indicated in dotted lines in said drawing the position of the shoe on the holder.

I prefer for cheapness and ease of construction to use strong wire in the manufacture of my device but I do not desire to limit myself to the use of wire as it will be clear that it may be made from other material. The device is constructed in two parts, each of which has a handle portion, and each of which has a portion shaped and adapted to project inside the shoe. Each portion is made preferably of one continuous piece of wire. The shape and construction of the parts will be readily understood by reference to the drawing.

The handle which is connected with that portion of the device which projects into the heel of the shoe is shown at ct. The precise shape of the handle is obviously not impor tant so long as it is of sufficient size and projects sufficiently from the shoe to enable it to be grasped readily by the hand. The wire forming the handle a is turned on itself at b to form a bearing or eye through which the pivot d passes. The wire then projects from the eye 12 preferably upwardly toward the handle but rearwardly thereof and diverging therefrom as shown at f so as to fill out the ankle portions of the shoe above the heel and hold it in an extended position. The wire then extends downwardly as shown at g into the heel into a position where it may bear against the inside of the heel portion to securely hold the shoe on the holder. The precise shape of the heel portion of the holder is not essential and may be varied considerably so long as it is shaped to bear against the inside of the heel to hold the shoe. It should also preferably bear against the ankle of the shoe above the heel to keep said ankle portion in an extended position so that the dressing may be evenly applied thereto. The handle h of the other portion of the device is similar in shape to the handle a and the wire of which it is formed is bent on itself forming an eye or bearing at 10 for the pivot 01. The spread of this portion of the handle it is somewhat greater than that of the corresponding portion of the handle a in order that both handles may be set on the same pivot as shown. From the eyes therwire projects preferably upwardly to fill thefront ankle portion of the upper and hold it in an extended position as shown at Z and then passes downwardly and is projected in a loop 9 so shaped as to be capable of insertion into the toe or fore-part of the shoe and thus, in co-operation with the heel holding portion of the device secure the shoe in position on the holder. It will also be clear that the precise shape of the toe portion of the holder is not essential it being onlyimportant that it should project forwardly into the shoe sufficiently to serve in holding the shoe in place. It should alsolbe so shaped at the ankle portions as to hold the upper in an extended position but the device may be used efficiently without this latter feature;

While I consider that it is better to construct the device in two parts and pivot them together by a cross piece of wire d as shown which is a cheap and effective method I do not desire to limit myself to the form of hinge or pivot shown.

The parts might be hinged together with a spring or other well-known device, and if a spring were employed it might be so arranged as to exert its tension in pressing the heel and toe portions of the device apart thus securely holding the shoe without the user exerting any pressure on the handles a h.

What I claim is- 1. A shoe holder composed of two parts pivotally connected together, the said parts having extended handle portions by means of which they may be moved relatively to each other, one of the said parts having in addition a projecting portion forintroduction into the toe of the shoe and the other a projecting portion for insertion into the heel thereof, f substantially as described. 2. Ashoe holder composed of two parts piv-;

otally connected together, the said parts having extended handle-portions by means of which they may be moved relatively to each other and also having portions shaped to extend the ankle portion of a shoe, one of the said parts having in addition a projecting portion for introduction into the toe of the shoe and the other a projecting portion for insertion into the heel thereof, substantially as described.

3. A shoe holder made from wire in two parts each of said parts comprising a handle portion and a portion adapted to project into the toe and heel portion of the shoe, said portions being pivoted together for the purposes and substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK W. WHI'ICHER.

Witnesses:

WM. A. MACLEOD, Rom. WALLACE. 

